Life is hard enough. Don't go through life with pain that’s keeping you clutching the steering wheel. Join me as I learn to deal with Adrenal Fatigue-Hashimoto’s- Hypothyroidism-OA- Osteonecrosis – Spondylolisthesis and how going to a mostly to a plant-based lifestyle and meditation helps my pain.

So twice a week we will post some educational info on a cause with links

Today Its Bone Marrow Edema

What is Bone Marrow Edema?

Bone marrow edema is a condition when excess fluids in the bone marrow build up and cause swelling. It is often caused by a response to an injury, such as a broken bone or a bruise, or a more chronic condition such as osteoporosis. Bone marrow edema most commonly occurs in the hips, knees and ankles. In this case, bone marrow edema of the knee is a main cause of localized knee and joint pain, and is only diagnosable via a Magnetic Resonance Imagining test (MRI).

It is usually caused by the following scenarios:

Avascular necrosis, or “bone death”. This is when a small portion of the bone dies, and can result in a painful bone marrow edema

Any type of knee bone trauma, including broken bones and bone bruises.

Joint disorders such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis. In this case, the knee joint is lacking the cushion that cartilage provides, which can lead to easier fracture and wear on the bone. Subsequently, if a fracture of the bone occurs, the injured area becomes susceptible to edema..

Knee ligament injuries.

A condition such as synovitis (an inflammation of the lining the joints, called synovial membranes).

In rare conditions, bone tumor.

Symptoms of Bone Marrow Edema in the Knee

Bone marrow edemas may not bother you at all, or they may be painful and inconvenient. They can feel more intense than a muscular injury (for example, a muscle bruise) at times due to the nature of the bone. A muscle is capable of swelling, which increases blood flow to heal the area. Unfortunately, bones are not capable of swelling, and thus the fluid (edema) that collects in the marrow can create intense pressure within the bone, resulting in more intense pain. In fact, in many osteoarthritic patients, it isn’t the lack of cartilage that’s causing them pain, but rather the pressure due to the edema.

Some of the most common symptoms of bone marrow endema include:

Varying degrees of pain, from mild to moderate, depending on the severity and Trauma.

Swelling of the knee area.

Inability to put full pressure on the knee to walk.

Recurrent pain and tenderness.

Bruising.

Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema in the Knee

Thankfully, most bone marrow edemas will settle down and heal on their own after the injury has subsided. For example, in some cases of osteonecrosis the bone will regenerate itself and heal the edema but note : not all cases of osteonecrosis or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee will have the ability to heal itself. Unfortunately, though, in the case of osteoarthritis, the edema may only get worse over time. In this circumstance, treatment options may be explored.

Traditional treatments for bone marrow edema usually involve rehabilitation through physiotherapy and rest. Ice, medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and even a crutch or a cane can help as well. There is one drug-facilitated treatment that uses a bisphosphonate and vitamin D mixture to help increase bone density. When this treatment is delivered via intravenous, it is found to be quite effective in reducing pain and increasing density. Other drugs that usually treat the vascular system have been found effective for bone marrow edema, in that they encourage blood flow and treat any vascular abnormalities that may exist in the bone and marrow.

In some more challenging cases, core decompression may be used. This is a type of surgery where a surgeon drills a hole into the affected part of the bone allowing that area of the bone to experience increased blood flow, form new blood vessels, and heal.

Another option is subchondroplasty, which can be especially effective for osteoarthritis patients. In this procedure, an x-ray determines where the edema is. The patient is then sedated, and a small needle injects a paste into the area of the edema. The paste then hardens and provides more strength and density to the bone. By improving the strength of the bone, it will enable the bone to deal with the pain of the edema and of the osteoarthritis.

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Published by ChronicallyGratefulDebla

The body always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is listening and doing what your body needs
I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in 2012, Avascular Necrosis aka Osteonecrosis in 2014 and Factor V Leiden hetero, Spondylolisthesis 2016
Health Advocate for all above and more
Health Activist
World Changer
Love photography, cooking, hiking,walking
and learning to live a new normal since my diagnosis.
And also Advocate for Heart Disease it's something I learned about as a kid ,both parents had it and now so does my husband.
My Links
Support Group Avascular Necrosis/Osteonecrosis Support Int’l https://m.facebook.com/groups/DeadBoneDiseaseAvn
Facebook Main Profile
https://m.facebook.com/public/Deborah-Andio
Main Blog
ChronicallyGratefulDebla.com
YouTube Awareness Videos
https://m.youtube.com/user/debbieandio
New Blog on Google 3/8/2017
http://chronicallygratefuldebla.blogspot.com/2017/03/hello-i-am-debbie-andio-i-am-blogger.html
Link to Mini Fact Videos
http://cortanavideo.trade/user/UC1RtmEwtWKC8w9EgE2IwOFg
Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/debbiea001
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/debbiea_1962
FB Information and Awareness Pages
Bone info and Joint of the Day
https://m.facebook.com/AvascularNecrosisRareDiseaseDayFeb29/
ON/AVN
https://m.facebook.com/Osteonecrosis-Avascular-Necrosis-Support-913679995417381/
ON/AVN
https://m.facebook.com/ONAvascular-Necrosis-Knowledge-752404224891578/
Recipes
https://m.facebook.com/YummyGoodness/
Facebook Link
https://m.facebook.com/ChronicallyGrateful.Me/
New Morning Talk
Anyone who wants to do a f b live via a guest message me.
Various topics health, pain, food
https://m.facebook.com/MorningTalk.Health/
View all posts by ChronicallyGratefulDebla